Arshile Gorky: A Pivotal Figure in Abstract Art

Arshile Gorky, a vital figure in American modernism and the rise of abstract expressionism, is recognized for his emotionally charged compositions and his bridging of European modernist influences with an emerging American style.

Resource: wikipedia

Early Life and Identity

Born Vosdanig Adoian in 1904 in the Armenian village of Khorkom, Gorky’s early years were marked by displacement and loss due to the Armenian genocide of 1915. These formative traumas are reflected in the melancholic undertones of his work. Upon emigrating to the United States in 1920, he changed his name to Arshile Gorky, creating a new identity that reflected his aspirations and his admiration for the Russian writer Maxim Gorky. This reinvention symbolizes his complex relationship with identity, a theme that permeates much of his art.

Personal Life

In 1941, Gorky married Agnes Magruder, known as “Mougouch,” with whom he had two daughters. His personal life was a blend of devotion and struggle; Gorky's intense focus on his work often led to periods of isolation and mood swings that impacted those closest to him. Mougouch, herself an artist, supported his ambitions but often found herself navigating his volatile temperament and single-minded commitment to art.

Artistic Development and Influences

Gorky’s development as an artist was deeply influenced by his reverence for European modernist masters, such as Cézanne, Picasso, and the Surrealists, particularly Joan Miró and André Masson. He spent years studying their techniques, often creating meticulous copies to understand their use of line, form, and color. This practice was not mere imitation; it served as a foundation for him to synthesize these influences into his own style, making him an essential link between European modernism and American abstraction.

His early works reveal a fascination with Cézanne’s structuring of space and Picasso’s treatment of form, while his later works incorporate biomorphic forms influenced by the surrealists. Gorky was particularly drawn to automatism, a technique used by surrealists to access the unconscious. By allowing his hand to move freely across the canvas, Gorky aimed to tap into deeper, unfiltered expressions of his emotions and memories.

Technique and Medium

Gorky’s work is characterized by a complex layering technique, which he achieved through thin, translucent washes of oil paint. This method allowed him to build depth gradually, creating a sense of luminosity and movement on the canvas. His application of paint was both meticulous and spontaneous, balancing control with moments of free-flowing forms. Gorky’s attention to detail extended to his use of line, which he used both as a means of structuring his compositions and as a tool for conveying emotional nuance. This linework became more fluid and organic in his later years, a transition that paralleled his journey into deeper abstraction.

His paintings often combine biomorphic shapes, abstracted from organic and human forms, with symbolic colors that he associated with emotions and memories. He favored a palette that reflected both vitality and melancholy, using vivid colors juxtaposed with more somber tones to convey the dualities he felt within himself.

Significant Works

Some of Gorky's most notable works include:

• “The Liver is the Cock’s Comb” (1944): This large-scale piece exemplifies Gorky’s mature style, characterized by vibrant color and complex organic forms. The painting, thought to be an exploration of identity and inner turmoil, features intricate shapes that evoke both natural and anatomical imagery. Critics have noted that this work symbolizes the synthesis of Gorky’s surrealist influences with his move toward a distinctly American form of abstraction.

• “The Artist and His Mother” (1926–1936): Based on a cherished photograph of Gorky with his mother, this painting serves as a deeply personal meditation on memory, loss, and nostalgia. Gorky worked on the piece for nearly a decade, meticulously refining the details. The work is often seen as an exploration of the enduring impact of his mother’s death and the emotional complexities of his Armenian heritage.

• “Garden in Sochi” Series (1940–1944): Inspired by memories of his Armenian childhood, this series blends landscape and abstraction, capturing the essence of place through dreamlike colors and forms. The series marks a critical transition in Gorky’s style, moving away from representational influences and toward pure abstraction. These paintings are filled with whimsical shapes that evoke both flora and fauna, set against vibrant, fluid backgrounds that suggest an emotional connection to his homeland.

The Liver is the Cock's Comb by Arshile Gorky

Role in Abstract Expressionism

Gorky played a pivotal role in shaping abstract expressionism, particularly through his connections with emerging artists of the New York School. He served as both a mentor and a bridge between European surrealist techniques and American abstraction, inspiring artists like Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock. His influence is often credited with helping to establish a uniquely American approach to abstraction, one that emphasized emotion, spontaneity, and the artist’s inner psyche.

Gorky’s approach to art as a conduit for emotional expression and his embrace of automatism deeply influenced these artists, who would go on to develop their own signature styles within the movement. His work, often rooted in personal trauma, resonated with a postwar audience grappling with themes of identity, displacement, and existential inquiry.

A Lasting Legacy

Gorky’s life was tragically cut short in 1948 when he took his own life at 44. The final years of his life were marked by personal challenges, including a studio fire, health issues, and a car accident, which contributed to his declining mental health. Despite his early death, Gorky’s influence endures. His pioneering integration of surrealist techniques with abstract expressionism and his ability to convey emotion through abstraction have left a lasting impact on the art world.

Further Reading

For a comprehensive exploration of Arshile Gorky’s life and work, the following texts provide in-depth analysis:

• “The Life of Arshile Gorky” by Hayden Herrera: This biography delves into Gorky’s complex personality, his artistic journey, and his influence on American art.

• “From a High Place: A Life of Arshile Gorky” by Matthew Spender: Written by Gorky’s son-in-law, this book offers a personal perspective on his life, balancing biographical details with intimate insights.

• “Arshile Gorky: His Life and Work” by Nouritza Matossian: This comprehensive study examines Gorky’s artistic evolution, contextualizing his work within both his personal history and broader art movements.

Arshile Gorky remains a compelling figure in the world of modern art. His work reflects a profound ability to transform personal tragedy into universal expressions of beauty and emotion, making him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.